Terms of Reference

Training community conversation facilitators on District-Level

People-Centered Advocacy Strategy Development

General Description of the Country Programme

GOAL is an Irish international humanitarian organization currently working in 12 countries in emergency and development contexts across the world. First operational in Uganda in the late 70’s, GOAL Uganda’s country programme is focused on long term development in health and livelihoods with a strategic focus on the north and east, where socio economic growth lags significantly behind the rest of the country. We have a coherent and innovative country programme that uses a resilience and systems approach throughout to increase incomes, employment, food security and diversity, increase social capital and improve health. GOAL works on a district focused approach, and uses a mixture of direct implementation and partnerships with local civil society organisations, private sector partners and District Local Government to give effect to our mission.

Community Conversations Approach

Community Conversations (CC) is a simple and non-linear process that empowers people to analyse and transform their community. It is a facilitated community discussion that utilises participatory facilitation and Participatory Learning in Action (PLA)[1] tools. It builds trust, strengthens relationships and creates space where everyone can discuss and reflect on concerns that affect their daily lives. Communities identify sensitive issues that are embedded within their social norms, individual and communal values, attitudes and behaviour. Communities are challenged to generate collective solutions to issues identified, facilitating change that comes from within the community and is owned by the community.[2]

GOAL Uganda introduced this approach in 2015 in response to evidence from a barrier analysis that showed cultural and social barriers were stopping individuals from changing their attitudes and behaviours on hygiene practices, household storage and feeding practices. The CC project was implemented through four partners for WASH programmes in Agago, Abim, Kaabong, Namayingo and Bugiri districts. GOAL directly implemented the CC approach in the districts of Agago and Abim.

A total of 216 community conversation facilitators had their capacities built and implemented the CC approach in 76 rural communities. This year an additional 30 CC facilitators have been engaged to implement new CC cycles in Agago and Abim.

The key topics discussed during CC sessions were, alcoholism, gender base violence, child education, nutrition, early marriage, poverty, hygiene and community participation. Action planswere drawn and implemented, and some positive results documented.Gaps have been identified in the capacity of the CC facilitators and the community to engage effectively in advocacy issues that require action by higher level duty bearers, especially within the public sector.

Aim of TOR

The main objective for this TOR is to support the creation of a systematic process owned and led by those affected by an issue raised during CC sessions, using evidence to influence people with power at different levels to make sustainable change in practices, policies, laws, programs, services, social norms and values for the betterment of those affected by the issues.After the activities, communities will have been facilitated to develop an actionable campaign / advocacy strategy on an issue of their choosing.

Overall Purpose

1. Reinforce the importance of community agreed People-Centered Advocacy Approach (proof of concept)

2. Build confidence in a select group of community conversation facilitators to lead processes of Issue-Based Advocacy Strategy Development at the sub county and district level

3. Enrich community engagement (via follow-up activities) and inform / reinforce PCA activities without posing a risk to the community members

4. Provide practical support to each community conversation facilitator to developone issue-based advocacy strategies for their operational CC site by December 2017

5. After the training, the community should be able to carry on the work via support from the “Training of Trainers” activity.

Model of Delivery

  • This will be a phased approach – with advocacy strategy development broken into four steps
  • Communication materials drafted, detailing all processing involved. These should be refined for the CC facilitators and local leaders in the CC sites.
  • The core team will be targeted in each workshop (4 GOAL staffs and50 CC facilitators; 25 in Abim and 25 in Agago)
  • Loosely, it is a “Training of Trainers” strategy, but with practical actions expected from teams in between formal engagements. Each core team will have until the next engagement to put their learning into practice in all districts, this enables practical experience, learning and will guide evolution of the process (which is new for CC facilitators and communities).

Overall, the technical leadership of the process is critical to high quality outputs

  • Roll-Out workshops must be designed and facilitated by a senior professional with direct experience implementing people-centered advocacy at the lower level.

Specific Deliverables

The following are the expected deliverable from the consultant.

1. Design all presentations, materials and activities to train 4 GOAL Livelihood staffs and 50 CC facilitators in people-centered advocacy development strategy.

2. Consult with the Livelihoods staffs/CC officer on all materials during and beforefinalization

3. Carry out all administrative tasks related to the trainings (planning and budgeting for all materials needed for the training, printing all materials, etc.)

4. Fully facilitate all workshops

5. Document each workshop with a brief report that includes learningsto be carried into the next workshop

6. Make occasional follow-up visits to trainees between advocacy planning steps to assess progress and offer tailored support

7. Ensure CC facilitators and local leaders design an actionable plan to subsequently roll out PCA down to the community post-consultancy period

8. Review and provide written feedback on various drafts of district advocacy strategies to ensure quality and adherence to core values

GOAL responsibility

GOAL will provide the following:

  1. Any relevant documentation need for the training.
  2. On the ground support from GOAL livelihoods team.
  3. Accommodation and perdiem (base on GU rate) as well as transport to the field during training.
  4. Consultancy fees will be paid by GOAL Uganda on receipt of an invoice after completion of the service.
  5. GOAL will endeavor to ensure the security of the consultant during the training and in this matter he/she will accept the authority of the Country Director.
  6. The consultant will work closely with GOAL’s livelihood community conversation officer and the M&E team (to develop metrics / activities for post-consultancy follow up, and to start evidence base for PCA approach), and report directly to the ACD-P
  7. If communities pick the same or similar issue, align advocacy agendas to coordinate with one another

Timeframe

The service agreement will run for 4 months(over 50 working days) continuously in 2017, ending by December 2017.

Required Qualifications

1. Minimum of 5 years professional experience in People Centered Advocacy, Community dialogue, governance or livelihood activities – preferably a combination of at least two.

2. At least 5 years of work experience in an NGO/CBO setting.

3. Demonstrated experience in designing and delivering participant-centered trainings on advocacy (at least 3 years).

4. Ability to work highly independently and proactively (must be in position to direct this process and “manage” community conversation facilitators in the process).

5. Sensitive to community volunteers who are expected to take on very new roles (this is a mindshift for all and many will be stepping far outside their comfort zone).

6. Candidate must also have strong knowledge of community engagement and livelihood approaches and decentralization policy/practice. Advanced training in advocacy, community dialogue/conversation or a closely related discipline is desirable.

Essential Criteria

All interested People-Centered Advocacy Strategy service consultants are requested to submit a document tendering for this assignment which should provide detail on the following:

  • Registration certificate relevant and valid trading license to the country in which the business is based.
  • A proposal specifying the People-Centered Advocacy Strategy service consultant understanding of the TOR, proposed methodology/solution to be adopted in achieving TOR andwork plan/time frame for completion of the assignment (by December 1st).
  • Proposed budget; including on overall quotation in UGX, Euro/USD for the services to be provided. These should be itemized to include the following, as well as non-financial resources required (e.g. personnel time, administrative arrangements, etc.)
  1. An all-inclusive day rate for (professional and administrative)
  2. Any other cost indicating the nature of such costs.
  3. Summary of the total costs for the services proposed.
  4. Proposed payment schedule.
  • CVs of the consultant(s) who will undertake the work that clearly spells out qualifications and experience, with other responsibility persons indicated.
  • Two professional references (one of your own choice and the other from your last client/employer).
  • Evidence of previous work completed in a similar area. Please submit an example piece of work from an above mentioned reference
  • All costs for proposal preparation and of negotiating a contract, including travel cannot be reimbursed as a direct cost of the assignment.
  • Commitment that the consultant(s) will be entirely engaged if consultancy is awarded.
  • Demonstrated experience in facilitating people-centered advocacy work (at least 3 years)

Award Criteria

  • Relevant experience in training on people centered advocacy development
  • Financial proposal (explicit daily rate for consultant(s) to be fully inclusive of all costs)
  • Realistic work plan with appropriate resource allocation

Internal scoring

Criteria / Score
  1. Relevant experience in training on people centered advocacy development at the lower level.
/ 55
  1. Financial proposal (explicit daily rate for consultant(s) to be fully inclusive of all costs)
/ 35
  1. Realistic work plan with appropriate resource allocation
/ 10
Total / 100